Sewing machine and attachment



Jufiy 12, 19490 c. SEAMAN 2,475,758

I SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1948 "z Shets-Sheet 1 L 91 L 7 a INVENTOR. CHARLESSEAMAN BY C. SEAMAN i SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT July 12,1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Jan. 13, 1348 V INVENTOR. 01/1/94 6 554M141:

ATTORNEY July 12, 1949. c. SEAMAN 2,475,758

v SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1948 v Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. 671/; E1. E5 SEA MAN ATTORNEX Jufly 12, 1949. c, SEAMAN 2,475,758

SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 15, 1948 5 7 Sheets$heet 4 July 12, 1949. c. SEAMAN v SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 13, 1948 INVENTOR. (l/ARA 5 JE MA/V 4 'TTOAWEX y 949. c. SEAMAN I SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 13, 1948 INVENTOR. C644 19/. 5534MAN A 7 Tom/5X Jul 12,1949. E f 2,475,758

SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 15, 1948 v INVENTOR. CHARLES SEAMAN '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I Patented July 12, 1949 9 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and attachments therefor and more particularly to a device for stitching an upper material to a base material and simultaneously trimming the edge of the base material along a line closely adjacent the row of stitches.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type which is relatively simple in construction, dependable in operation, and is suited for use in connection with commercial sewing machines.

The invention may be applied particularly to a device for stitching a finishing material such a strip of lace to the edge of a base material, and at the same time trimming the edge of the base material along a line which is uniformly spaced from the row of stitches. In the embodiment shown a transversely extending knife blade is provided with a cutting edge which cooperates with a stationary knife fixed in the cover plate of the machine directly beneath the toe of the presser foot. The transverse knife blade is reciprocated vertically by a suitable linkage mechanism driven by a horizontal shaft extending across the back of the sewing machine head and rotated by a suitable driving means such as a chain from the main drive shaft of the machine. A linkage is provided for manually elevating the movable knife blade to permit the base material to be passed thereunder for setting up the work. The trimming material, such as a strip of lace, is fed to the presser foot above the reciprocating knife blade and passes under the presser foot in contact with the base material for stitching. The knife blades are laterally offset from the needle path by an amount corresponding to the desired displacement of the line of stitches from the edge of the material. Hence the material is cut or trimmed along this line as it is fed to the needle.

The strip of lace material is guided by a guide flange mounted on the presser foot so that it is uniformly positioned with respect to the needle path. Hence, in the finished product, the lace is stitched to the base material at a uniform specified distance from the free edge thereof and no additional trimming or finishing is required.

The device is particularly adapted for use with a zig-zag sewing machine of standard type inasmuch as a zig-zag stitch is usually desirable for attaching a lace strip to the edge of the base material. It may, however, be used on a straight stitch sewing machine if desired.

Although the novel features which are characteristic of this invention are pointed outmore particularly in the claims, the nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a sewing machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the rear of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a partial top plan view of the cutting mechanism with parts broken away for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the needle end of the sewing machine and the cutting mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a machine showing the lower portion of the needle head and showing the driving mechanism for the cutting knives;

Fig. 6 is a transverse line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on the line l-'l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the drive mechanism for the reciprocating knife;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the knife bracket;

Fig. 1015 an end elevation of the knife bracket;

Fig. 11 is a detail View showing the path of the material;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the presser foot;

Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line !3-l3 of Fig. 3 with the bracket removed; and

Fig. 14 is a plan View of the product.

Referring to the drawings, a standard sewing machine head is illustrated having a base 2, a standard 3, and an overhanging arm 4 carrying a needle head 5 in which a needle bar 6 and a presser foot bar I are mounted to reciprocate vertically. The machine is shown as of the zig-zag type having a link Ill connected to oscillate the needle bar 6 laterally for making the zig-zag stitch and driven by suitable mechanism contained in a housing I I, the construction of which forms no part of the present invention. The usual lever l 2 (Fig. 2) is provided to elevate the presser foot as desired to provide clearance for inserting or removing the work. The needle bar 6 and presser foot bar I are driven by a driving pulley It which is actuated by a belt l5 and is provided with the usual hand wheel l6. The presser foot cooperates with the usual feed dogs I3 (Figs. '7 and 8) which are driven in the usual manner and are positioned in slots in a plate is having an elongated needle hole 28 which provides clearsection taken along the ance to accommodate the lateral shifting of the needle for producing a zig-zag stitch. In the case of a straight stitch machine, the needle hole 2!! would be round.

The sewing machine head and the various parts just described are of standard construction and include the usual stitching and driving mechanism. Only so much thereof has been shown and described as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

The present attachment comprises a horizontal bracket 25 which extends along the back of the sewing machine head and is attached to the base 2 by means of screws 26 (Fig. 2). The bracket 25 carries bosses 21 and 28 in which a rotating shaft 29 is journalled. The shaft 29 carries a sprocket wheel 3!) driven by a sprocket chain 3! meshing with the sprocket 32 attached to the drive pulley M. A suitable guard 33 is provided for shielding the sprockets 3D and 32 and the chain 3 l.

At its other end the shaft 29 carries a boss 38 (Figs. 1-4) in which a pin 39 is mounted eccentrically. The pin 39 carries an eccentric surface Gil about which a link M (Figs. 1-6) is journalled. The link H is pivoted to a bell crank lever 52 which is journalled about a rock shaft 43 mounted in suitable bearings in a housing 44 (Fig. 7) and carrying a spur gear 4:5.

The rock shaft 53 is driven by an arm 50 attached thereto and carrying at its end a detent i pressed inwardly by a spring 52 and carrying an actuating knob 53. The detent 5! in its inner position is adapted to engage a hole 54 in an arm 55 of the bell crank lever 42. The arm 55 is provided with a tapered slot 53 (Fig. 1) which is adapted to facilitate the engagement of the detent 5! with the hole 54.

The spur gear 45 engages a rack 60 on a slide Bl which is mounted to reciprocate vertically in the housing it. A cover plate 62 closes the housing M to secure the spur gear 65 and the slide Bl.

The slide 6| carries a bracket 63 (Fig. 9) having a laterally and downwardly extending slit arm 5 in which a knife blade is secured. A clamping screw 66 in the split bracket 64 clamps the knife blade 65 in position. The bracket 63 also carries an arm 61 in which a set screw 63 is threaded and is adapted to bear against the end of the knife blade 65 for adjusting and positioning the same.

The knife blade 65 is L-shaped in section as shown in Figs. 8 and 13 to provide a horizontal flange 19 having a lower cutting edge and a depending fiange H which cooperates with the stationary knife blade to be described for guiding the blade. The stationary knife blade 13 is mounted in a recess in the cover plate is (Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 13) and is attached thereto by a screw 'M so as to lie flush with the top of the cover plate.

The presser foot St is attached to the presser foot bar l by means of a set screw 8% and is provided with a flat lower surface 32 for guiding the material over the feed dogs is and with a needle hole 33. The presser foot is cut away adjacent the needle hole 83 to provide a slot 85 (Figs. 3 and 12) to receive the knife blade 65 and is provided with an upturned flange 86 which extends above the knife blade 85 and serves to guide the strip of trimming material beneath the surface 82 of the presser foot where it is stitched by the needle and is fed by the feed dogs iii. A guide flange 88 is mounted on the presser foot and is adjustably secured by a set screw 89 extending through an elongated slot 90 in an ear 9| carried by the flange 88.

In setting up the work, the and the arm 50 is raised so as to elevate the knife (55 sufficiently to permit the work to be passed thereunder. The base material B is then passed beneath the knife blade 65 and beneath the presser foot 80 to the path of the needle, as shown in Fig. 11. The detent 5| is then reinserted in the hole 54 thereby lowering the knife blade 65 into engagement with the material and the strip of trimming material T, such as lace, is passed across the top of the presser foot with its edge in contact with the flange 8B of the presser foot and is passed over the knife blade 65 and then downwardly beneath the flange 86, through the slot 85, and under the presser foot into engagement with the base material B.

Stitching now takes place in the usual manner and the needle is actuated to secure the trimming material T to the base material B with the usual zig-zag stitch S (Fig. 14). At the same time the knife blade 65 is reciprocated vertically with the bracket 63 and slide El due to the rocking of the link 4| by the eccentric surface 40 of the pin 39 which is transmitted to the bell crank lever 42 and thence through the detent 5| and arm 55 to the spur gear 45.

The knife blade 65 thus reciprocates vertically and cooperates with the stationary blade 13 to cut the base material B alon a path which is spaced from the needle path as indicated in Fig.

As the knife blade 65 extends beneath the trimming material T, however, it does not cut that material, but only trims the edge of the base material B as it passes to the needle beneath the toe of the presser foot.

The finished material has the appearance indicated in Fig. 14 which shows a base material B having a trimmed edge extending parallel to and closely adjacent the row of stitches S. The material is thus ready for use without further stitching or trimming. The position of the edge 96 of the trimming material T with respect to the stitches S is determined by the position of the flange 83 on the presser foot which engages and guides the trimming material through the path of the needle.

Since it is obvious detent 5| is released that various changes and modifications may be made in the above device without departing from the scope of the present invention, the invention is only to be restricted in accordance with the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sewin machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs and a presser foot cooperating therewith, a drive pulley connected to actuate the same, a stationary knife mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said reciprocating knife comprising a drive shaft, chain drive means coupling said drive. shaft to said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and having a rack thereon, a pinion cooperating with said rack, a rock shaft carrying said pinion, and a driving connection between said first shaft and said rock shaft.

2. A sewin machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs and a presser foot cooperating therewith, a drive pulley connected to actuate the; same, a stationary knife mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said reciprocating knife comprising a drive shaft, chain drive means coupling said drive shaft to said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and having a rack thereon, a pinion cooperating with said rack, a rock shaft carrying said pinion, and eccentric means connecting said first shaft to rock said rock shaft.

3. A sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs and a presser foot cooperating therewith, a drive pulley connected to actuate the same, a stationary knife mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said reciprocating knife comprising a drive shaft, chain drive means coupling said drive shaft to said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and having a rack thereon, a pinion cooperating with said rack, a rock shaft carrying said pinion, eccen tric means connecting said first shaft to rock said rock shaft, and a releasable connection between said eccentric means and said rock shaft to release said slide for elevation independently of the position of said drive means.

4. A sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs and a presser foot cooperating therewith, a drive pulley connected to actuate the same, a stationary knife mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating lmife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said reciprocating knife comprising a drive shaft, chain drive means coupling said drive shaft to said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and having a rack thereon, a pinion cooperatin with said rack, a rock shaft carrying said pinion, an arm connected to actuate said rock shaft, a link connected to actuate said arm, and eccentric means connecting said link to said first shaft.

5. A sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs and a pressa cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said reciprocating knife comprising a drive shaft, chain drive means coupling said drive shaft to said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and hav- 5;

dogs, a presser foot cooperating therewith, and a drive pulley connected to actuate the same, said attachment comprising a stationary knife to be mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said movable knife said pinion, and means connecting said first shaft to rock said rock shaft.

7. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle bar, feed dogs, a presser foot cooperating therewith, and a drive pulley connected to actuate the same, said attachment comprising a stationary knife to be mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said movable knife comprising a drive shaft adapted to be driven by said pulley, a vertical slide carrying said reciprocating knife and having a rack thereon, a pinion cooperating with said rack, a rock shaft carrying said pinion, means connecting said first shaft to rock said rock shaft, and a releasable connection between said connecting means and said rock shaft to release said slide for elevation independently of the position of said drive means.

8. An attachment for a sewing machine having attachment comprising a stationary knife to be mounted below said presser foot, a reciprocating knife having a blade extending transversely with a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary knife, and driving means for said movable knife comprising a drive shaft adapted to be driven by The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,221,252 Weiss Apr. 3, 1917 1,717,099 Dooley June 11, 1929 2,323,750 Frey July 6, 1943 

